Life always has its ups and downs. Try a stress relief care package to help those downs turn right into ups! Everyone needs just a little help managing stress from time to time. Try out a few of these gifts for the overworked loved one in your life.

1. Facial Masks

The iconic choice. There is a reason why almost every spa has facials because they are undoubtedly relaxing. Facial masks can be good for fighting acne, moisturizing, and hydrating the skin. This is great because stress tends to increase breaks and dry out the skin. Try out these masks to relax: sheet masks, mud masks, charcoal masks, and sleep masks. 

2. Tea

Did you know even one cup of tea can reduce stress levels significantly? Which makes sense because many common tea ingredients like mint and chamomile are linked to reducing anxiety.   Even if your care package receiver is a coffee drinking through and through, encourage them to try something a little out of their comfort zone. If you are not familiar with teas check out a few of these varieties to put into your stress relief care package: 

• Chamomile tea- It’s one of the number teas recommended to relieve stress. 
• Oolong tea- It’s made from the same leaves as the Camellia sinensis plant. This tea has a light and floral taste to it. 
• Peppermint tea- peppermint oil is linked to reducing tension headaches and nasal congestion
• Cinnamon tea- prolonged stress can lead to inflammation in the body, thankfully cinnamon tea fights against inflammation
  

3. Single Serve Soup

Who doesn't have a cheerful memory with soup? The cure all for sick days can double as the nice stress relief. It frees up the time constraint of meal prep and does not create any dish work. Campbell’s Single Service Microwavable soups are cheap, have a variety of flavors, and are pretty tasty. Besides, nothing says love more than a back-up dinner option when you realize you forgot to go to the store or even just don’t feel like cooking. 

4. Adult Colorings Book + Color Pencils 

Studies suggest that coloring reduces stress, boosts mental health, and promotes creativity. Plus there is an added level of  childhood nostalgia. You can get a standard coloring book or even something themed to your friend’s likes. There are Marvel coloring books, Harry Potter, Disney, and lots more. Browse around for something that will speak to your care package receiver. Don’t forget to add in a fresh set of 12 pack colored pencils to go along with it! Not everyone has a fresh set of coloring tools laying around. 

5. Water bottle 

Everyone needs a water bottle. Since the average American under consumes water by about 57% percent of the optimal amount and all it takes dropping below the 2% level to start being dehydrated. This is a problem because dehydration causes headaches, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, stress, and a few other less glamorous side-effects. This is why a water bottle is the best gift anyone could receive. Not only will it decrease your friends daily stress but also get rid of these nuisance side effects. Besides, isn't the best gift one one that promotes a healthy lifestyle?

6. Stress ball

The ball doesn’t carry stress, but rather brings stress relief. Just a few tight squeezes will send the stress out of your body into the ball. They come in lots of cute shapes! For instance check out this adorable citrus set for when life gives you lemons and limes!

7. White noise machine

A common source of stress is sleep deprivation. Even one bad night of sleep can throw your circadian rhymes for quite the loop. However white noise machines help lull asleep restless sleepers. Usually with a quiet background noise like rain, ocean, waves, fire crackling, or even crickets. It all just depends on the noise maker you buy. 

8. Gum

Not only is gum relatively cheap, but it has linked to reducing stress making it the perfect stuffer for the stress relief package. Chewing gum is a common habit and you can really get creative with your choices! Trident layers, classic Hubba Bubba, React 5, or Big Red if you can find it. As previously mentioned cinnamon has been linked to reducing stress! 

Organization Supplies

One of the biggest sources of stress in life is the amount of day to day clutter. Besides, it's not fun trying to sort through any mess to help your loved one get organized. Here a few gift ideas to help fill out your stress relief care package.

9. Day Planner

Keeping all of your appointments straight can be pretty chaotic. Work deadlines, work meetings, doctors, college classes, plans with friends, plans with family, rental due back dates, hair appointments, when you need to go shopping, the dentist, the list could go on and on. Since most people don’t have the luxury of a personal assistant to handle their schedule, consider getting a day planner for your friend. Having your life laid out in one convenient area can be real life saver. 

10. Sticky notes

The backbone of any forgetful person is lots and lots of sticky notes. They are nice little reminders of anything and everything. This may seem counterintuitive with day planner but that’s not the case. Sticky notes are good for small breakdowns of daily tasks. Like a sticky note on the fridge letting you know to pull out dinner to thaw, a little note reminding you to call back your doctor, and a helpful reminder to finish any task you were supposed to do yesterday but just didn’t have time.

11. Lots of writing utensils

Pens, pencils, and highlighters alike-- all of it. When someone is constantly writing things like in a day planner or sticky notes he or she will need a lot of writing utensils. It is just too easy to misplace a pen, run out of ink, or run down a pencil. So the more writing utensils the better! 

12. Bluetooth tracking tag

This is a great gift for anyone who  is constantly losing their keys. All your friend has to do is download the product’s app, link the tracker and their bluetooth, then it’s ready to link up with a keychain or any other precious item you can tie it to. When you find yourself searching for keys just go onto the app and will play sound from the tracker to help you find it! 

13. Backpack 

Any one of friends with a hectic schedule will love, love, love the gift of a backpack. Spare clothes, water bottle, day planner, wallet, keys, jacket, umbrella, phone charger, laptop, or even more the possibilities are truly endless for what a backpack could lug around. It is nice having everything prepared to go.

How to pack a little extra care into your care package

If your family or friends have been stressed out try adding practicing these few friendly tips to show a little extra love.

1. Invite them out

A great way to relieve stress is spending time with a friend. Try planning out a fun friend date, go out to a bar, go shopping, or carve out the night to binge watch a new TV show. Anything to help get your loved one a little time out of his or her head. Taking a break from one’s problems can be a therapeutic way to break out of negative thoughts. Bonus: you get to hang out with your friends. Make an event out of it by slipping an old fashion paper invite to hang out in your self-care gift package. 

2. Exercise with them

It’s hard to stay motivated and keep to an exercise routine, but it will actually improve your stress levels! Exercise releases endorphins which trigger happiness and positive feelings. Added perk you get to burn calories and good work out of it. This is one of those many occasions the water bottles will come in handy! Plus you can give your whole spiel how the average American is under hydrated. Anytime an opportunity to climb-up on a soap box is well received. 

3. Help out with chores or errands

This is easy if you are living with your stressed out loved one like family, an S.O., or just a roommate. Try picking up a few extra chores to take it off their plates. It will also add to the overall declutter in the house. For anyone who lives outside of your walls try stopping over and helping with a few chores or simply offering to help run errands with them like grocery shopping.

4. Bring them a home cooked meal

Earlier in the article it was mentioned how not having to cook a meal can be a great source of stress relief. Try taking this gift idea to the next level by delivering a hot fresh dinner. If you can make a favorite meal or something that might leave a little leftovers. Perhaps cooking is not your forte, make an attempt at baking or ordering a premade meal for your friend or loved one.  

Remember these are just a few ideas for your stress relief package, but feel free to customize your approach to your loved ones because you know them best! Any care package surprise will be more than enough to bring a smile to most faces.